Words: Jason Hall, SWQ Thunder
Image: Russell Ensor, SWQ Thunder

Brisbane Strikers chalked up their first away win of the season with a comprehensive 8-0 victory over SWQ Thunder at Clive Berghofer Stadium in Toowoomba on Sunday afternoon.

Matt Thurtell was superb for Strikers netting four goals while Scott Coulson continued his good early season form with a hat trick. Jackson Hall rounded out the scoring for the dominate Strikers.

It took just 3 minutes for Thurtell to find the back of the net when the striker ran the ball into the 18 yard box and dummied to shoot on his left before cutting back on to his right to beat the block of the defender and slot the ball inside the far post.

Just six minutes later left winger Jackson Hall was in the right place when a deflection from a shot outside the box landed at his feet in front of goal with just goalkeeper Stuart Campbell to beat. His shot powered past Campbell for a 2-0 lead.

Strikers continued to dominate possession with shots from David Salin and Thurtell forcing saves from Campbell before Scott Coulson got on the score sheet in the 16th minute when he pounced on a loose ball in the 18 yard box to score and put the game out of reach for Thunder.

Coulson netted his second just nine minutes later when the ball was cut back across the face of goal for Campbell to deflect the ball into the path of the right winger who headed the ball into the back of the net for a 4-0 lead.

Just a minute before half time Thunder mounted their first real attack on Strikers goal only for it to result in a quick Strikers counter attack down the right.

A lung bursting run from right back, Chris Maher, saw him take the ball to the byline before cutting back for Thurtell to head home his second.

Thunder abandoned their defensive 4-5-1 shape in the second half for a more attacking 4-4-2 shape and it paid immediate dividends when Matt Carey forced David Chambers to make his first save of the match.

Strikers scoring continued in the 51st minute when a miscued shot from Chris Burley was superbly volleyed in by Thurtell to bring up his hat trick.

Thunder had their best chance off the game 15 minutes later after some good combination play from Harry Scott and Matt Carey resulted in Scott finding substitute midfielder Martin Oyat who fired at goal.

Just one minute later however Coulson brought up his hat trick when he received the ball on his chest with his back to goal before turning and shooting for a great goal.

Thurtell capped of a great game when he scored his fourth goal in the 78th minute with a neat header after good lead up work from Coulson.

The 8-0 result sees Strikers join Brisbane City in second place on the NPL Queensland table while Thunder suffered their sixth consecutive loss to remain on the bottom.

SWQ Thunder 0
Brisbane Strikers 8 (Matt THURTELL 3' 44' 53' 78', Jackson HALL 9', Scott COULSON 16' 22' 67')